KOWSAR MEDICAL JOURNAL
Year:2002 | Volume:7 | Issue:part 1|Papers Count:23

Low Back Pain (LBP) is one of the most significant musculoskeletal disorders associated with considerable disability and economic losses. There are various methods for treating LBP. Conservative therapy such as non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), bed rest, physiotherapy (PT) and in severe and disabling conditions invasive methods (i.e. surgery) are used the main objective of this research was to identify the functional differences between normal and LBP patients and identify the efficacy of treatment. This study was quasi-experimental design study which was performed on 30 (18 normal and 12 LBP patients) females with mean age of 35.70± 4.69 years using Isostation B200 dynamometer. Evaluation included isometric, range of motion (ROM) and dynamic tests. Visual analog scale for pain (VAS) was also used in the study group. The statistic analysis was performed with non-parametric tests of Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon. All parameters related to motor output and movement patterns were significantly decreased in LBP patients (P<.001 for velocity and maximum isometric torque (MIT) of ext, P<.05 for others). Bedrest produced a significant increase in MIT of extension andIlexion, average isoinertial Ext torque and extension work (P<.05) , but ROM and flexion phase variables wasnt significantly changed. Physiotherapy produced a significant increase in pain reduction, MIT of Ext and flex, velocity, work, power and ROM in both of Ext and flex phases (P<.05). There was muscle inhibition (especially extensors) and decrease in all parameters of motor output and movement patterns due to pain. Bedrest in subacute patients tended to decrease pain and significantly increase muscle relaxation. It appears that PT was more efficient than bedrest because in addition to significant pain reduction and muscle relaxation, it produced an increase in movement patterns. It is suggested that in the treatment of LBP patients, electrotherapy and movement and/or exercise therapy in suitable time, is effective in this regard.

Vasectomy is one of the most common form of male contraception. It has been reported that vasovasostomy had little success in refertilization. One reason might be because of changes in the epididymis and its effects on growth of sperm cells. This study is concerned with histopathologic changes in rats after vasectomy. Thirty rats were divided in groups; bilateral vasectomy group, right vasectomy, left side sham - operated group and bilateral sham - operated group. In each group one half were sacrificed after two months and the others after four months post-operation. Their epididymis was removed and stained and then observed under microscope. Rupture of tubules, cysts, sperm gronuloma, increase of interstitial soft tissues, increase in leukocytes, detachment of epithelial cells, necrosis of tissues of the epididymis, excuda and degeneration of sperm were observed in the cauda of epididymis of the vasectomized group. In the sham groups everything was normal and no changes were observed. There were no considerable differences between the caput and corpus of the epididymis of vasectomized and sham groups.

Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship(QSAR) methods are used for correlation between biological activity and physicochemical parameteres of compounds. Organophosphates known as chemical warfare agents are extremely potent inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase. Oximes with reactivation of the enzyme cholinesterase are very important in treatment of war victims. None of standard oximes penetrate the blood-brain barrier readily, nor are the effective against aged enzyme. New generation of oximes (H-series) have greater activity than the conventional oximes, particularly against soman. However, their instability in aqueous solution and lack of effectiveness against tabun poisoning mandate of further efforts in developing new oximes. Hansch linear multiple regression analysis was applied on bisquaternary oxime compounds to determine their structural requirements necessary for binding. Quantitative structure activity relationship in two groups of oximes containing trimethylene or ether bridges in their structures were studied by means of computerized method of analysis. Biological activity of the parent molecule in a series of compounds was analyzed and related equations for each analysis were gained. These equations show the correlation between biological activity and physicochemical parameteres (electronic, hydrophobic and steric factors) in each group of compounds which were studied. According to the results, electronic and hydrophobic effects have significant relation with biological activity of oximes in cholinesterase reactivation. In oximes containing trimethylene bridges between two pyridinium rings, placing an electron withdrawing group at para position of the pyridinium ring will increase activity, while hydrophobic parameter shows negative correlation with biological activity. As a conclusion, the whole activity of the oximes studied depend on the position of the oxime group in one of the pyridinium rings and the type and/or position of another non-oxime group in another pyridinium ring.

The clastogenic and cytogenetic effects of continuous ultrasound alone or in combination with various doses of bleomycin sulfate were evaluated on human GO-Iymphocytes. Lymphocytes were separated and exposed to 0.5 W continuous ultrasound alone or in the presence of various doses of bleomycin sulfate before culture initiation. To arrest cells in cytokinesis, cells were exposed to 5 µg/ml cytochalasin - B then micronuclei were prepared according to standard methods. Slides were stained in 10% Giemsa and 1000 binuclei were scored for the presence of micronuclei for each treatment. Results indicated that the frequency of micronuclei increases following increasing doses of bleomycin and was significantly different from control and sham control groups (P<0.05). Ultrasound alone did not produce high frequency of micronuclei different from sham controls significantly. However, when cells were exposed to ultrasound in the presence of 2-4 mg/ml bleomycin, a prefound effect but not more than additive, was observed. Combinations of ultrasound and 6 mg/ml blemycin led to a synergistic clastogenic effect in lymphocytes (1.7 times more than the total micronuclei observed for each treatment). The mechanism by which ultrasound enhances the effects of bleomycin is not fully known. It might bring changes in the cytoplasmic membrane transportation so that larger numbers of drug molecules are entered into the cell causing more DNA damage and hence micronulei formation.

Alpha-1-antitrypsin (α1-AT) is the most important serine protease inhibitor in serum. This protein has several phenotypes. Some of these phenotypes such as MZ, M1Z, M1S, MS, ZZ, ... show the signs of α1-AT deficiency. In persons with α1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), many organ such as the liver, lung, kidney, ... may be damaged. In this study two groups were choosen. Group one had (49 patients) had idiopatic liver disease and group two 28 Patients were volunteers with normal liver tests. We have measured trypsin inhibitory capacity in both groups by enzymatic assay and then determined α1-AT phenotypes by isoelectrofocusing (lEF) on polyacrylamide gel. By comparing α1-AT phenotypes between the two-groups we have observed significant differences in their phenotypes. But there was no significant difference between TIC of two groups. It can be concluded that persons with AATD are at high risk for liver disease development and α1-AT phenotypes must be evaluated by isoelectrofocusing method.

In this research the potential development of vitrified early preantral of neonate mouse follicle was studied. Early Preantral follicles with the diameter of 100-130 mm were isolated mechanically from 14 days old NMRY mice ovaries.Follicles were vitrified using PBI containing 30% WN Ficoll, 0.5 M sucrose, 105 mg BSA, 10.7 WN Acetamide and 40% V/V ethylene Glycol (EGFA40) as a cryopreservation solution and then plunged into liquid nitrogen, Stored for two weeks. Thawing was performed in one step manner using 0.5 M Sucrose in BPI and then washed with PBI, transferred to the drops of DMEM/Hams F12 containing 5% FCS. 253 intact vitrified preantral follicle were cultured in drops in 20 ml of culture medium containing 5 mg/ml insulin, 10 mg/ml transferrin and 100 mlU/ml rFSH. two day after culturing, survive follicles evaluated under invert microscope. preantral follicar development followed up to day 12 and culture media renewed every two days. At day 12, preovolatory follicles were stimulated with 1.5 IU/ml hCG. After 24 hours, mature, ovulated oocytes inseminated with the capacitated epidydimal sperms as the same strain of mice. Germinal vesicle (GV), germinal vesicle breakdown (GVB), extrusion of first polar body, fertilization and development of two cells embryos in vitrified were evaluated by using inverte microscope. results showed that after 48h, 91.2% of vitrified follicles were survived and at the 6th day of culturing, follicular follicles changes to outgrowth follicle and finally 15.9% of AFF follicles were ovulated and 42.1% of oocytes were showen to be 2-cell embryos. There fore it can be conclued that preantral follicle of neonate as a vitrified can develop in DMEM-Hams F12 toward germinal vesicle breakdown successfully but their further progression need to be investigated.

To evaluate the effect of Levodopa-B on visual acuity of amblyopic children and the stability of these effects after drug discontinuation. Side effects of this drug in children were also evaluated. This study was a prospective, double blind, clinical trial. 34 children (6-14 years of age), were randomly assigned to receive Levodopa-B 6mg/kg as an initial dose and then 2mg/kg three times per day for one week or placebo as control group in the same sequence. Other treatments for amblyopia were not done during this study. Corrected visual acuity (V.A.) for each eye, was measured at baseline, one hour after initial dose, after one week of treatment, and three weeks after termination of treatment. Children and their parents were questioned about the side effects of Levodopa-B. Results showed that in the treatment group, mean V.A. of amblyopic eyes improved from baseline 0.4 to 0.59 one hour after the first dose (P<0.001). It reached 0.44 after one week of treatment and to 0.45 three weeks after termination of treatment (P<0.05). In the control group, changes in mean of V.A. of amblyopic eyes were not significant (P>O.3). In the treatment group seven cases of nausea and emesis, and six cases of hyperactivity were reported one hour after first dose. These side effects subsided and were not repeated. After one week of treatment, only one case of mild depression was reported. Therefore Levodopa-B 6mg/kg per day, produces a clinical and statistically significant short- term improvement of V.A. in children with amblyopia. This improvement is stable for at least three weeks after termination of treatment. Side effects were also mild and transient.

Pressure sores are one of the most important and common complications of spinal cord injury. Many preventive and therapeutic means have been purposed and tested. One of these new attempts is the use hydrocolloid dressings. In this study, we compared the therapeutic effects of hydrocolloid dressings with phenytoin cream and simple dressings. 91 stage I and stage IIpressure ulcers in 83 male paraplegic victims of the Iran-Iraq war were randomly allocated to one of 3 treatment groups. Background and confounding variables such as age, weight, duration before treatment, size and stage of ulcers were identical in all groups. All patients received home visits by a physician for 8 consecutive weeks and the ulcer status was recorded as complete or partial healing, without improvement, and worsening. Complete healing, regardless of site and stage of ulcer, was better in hydrocolloid dressing group (P<0.05). Complete resolution of stage II ulcers treated by colloid dressing were better than simple dressing (P<0.005) but did not differ from the phenytion group (P>0.05). Healing was more complete in the colloid group than phenytoin and simple dressing groups in ischial (with P<0.05 and <0.005 respectively) and gluteal (P<0.005 and P<0.001 respectively) ulcers. Though not significantly different in sacral ulcers we conclude that hydrocolloid dressing in comparison with phenytoin cream and simple dressing is the preferred method of treatment in stage I and II pressure ulcers. On the basic of feasible usage, patient comfort and other benefits, colloid dressing is recommend in all stage I and II pressure ulcers.

This is a clinical-trial study done in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) in Hamadan from 1997 to 1998. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the satisfaction of nurses and patients in nursing care organizations with primary nursing. In this study 76 patients (in two groups of 38), 14 nurses and one headnurse have been choosen. The tools consisted of satisfaction questionnaires, and the observatory checklist evaluating performance of headnurses. In the first observatory stage, before proceeding the nursing care organization scheme, questionnaires were filled by the nurses and the first group of patients just before discharging from the CCU.After intervention and confirmation of changes of a new nursing care system in the ward, the same questionnaires were filled by the nurses and patients (group2) ,and at the same time performance of the headnurse according to the primary nursing rules in the CCU was evaluated. The result of the t-test in the patient groups was (T=-11.4) and the paired t-testAn the nurses group was (T=-5.62), with (P=0.000).The increase in satisfaction was significant.

The basic cause of hirsutism is abnormality of sex hormones and polycystic ovanes (pcO). This study was a case control. one the prevalence of pco has been determined in cases and compare with of controls. from 927 cases, 259 was grouped ???? study case group and 668 as a control group. They were examined for pco by sonography. a significant results showed the relation between hirsutism and pco (pv<0.001 & x2=14).

Chronic renal failure progresses over years and its control depends on maintaining the remained renal function, and it is evident that dialysis and renal transplantation are not enough alone. This quasiexperimental study was performed to assess the effects of a designed dietetic program on the control of chronic renal failure in early stages (renal insufficiency). Sixty-five randomly selected patients were divided by two groups: test group comprised of 35 patients with mean creatinine clearance rate of 43.4±8.7 ml/min and control group comprised of 30 patients with a mean creatinine clearance rate of 41.2±9.8 ml/min .The samples consisted of patients with various causes of chronic renal failure. After assessing weight BP, Ht., labaratory data and dietary condition of patints in several times, a nutrition regimen consisted of: protein 0.6-0.7 gr/kg ideal body wt./day, phosphrus 10-12 mg/gr protein, energy 35-40 kcal/kg ideal body wt./day, calcium 1-1.5 gr/day, and sodium 2-4 gr/day, period of six months were designed for test group. To see whether the patients were following the recomended regimen, lab data, protein catabolism rate, the rate of urine phosphorus excretion were assessed and the patients were inteviewed. For assessing of renal function, pars azemoon kits for creatinine measurement, zist shimi kits for urea, kitman for phosphorus, and trichloroacetic acid 3% for measurement of urine protein were used. All data were collected every 1.5 months for period of six months. The results showed that, after the intervention, there was a significant difference in mean creatinin clearance rate between two groups (P

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and the second leading cause of death in men and its incidence below 50 years of age is very rare. Its incidance in Iran is lower than European countries and America. In our report, two patients aged below 50 years with cancers of high grade and invasiveness are presented in Iranian patients below 50 years who are suspected for prostate cancer, rectal examination and PSA are necessary.

Under present situation of the globe, bioterrorism and its various aspects are frequently discussed and highlighted in different countries including our homeland, Iran. Although the extent of bioterrorism dimensions are widespread, the limitation of its outcomes to a certain target area or population is also very difficult; where this is not the case for chemoterrorism. Therefore, chemoterrorism should not be forgotten as a matter of the past. In other words, by use of chemical agents, a target can be affected effctively without exerting much threat to areas or population other than the target. In this article, the importance of chemoterrorism, the agents that may be used in a chemical terrorism event, and the responsibility of medical community are discussed. It is concluded that, firstly, the chemoterrorism is not a story of the old days, but it is a real and imminent theat; secondly, all chemical agents (i. e. nerve agents, vesicants, cyanide, pulmonary agents and incapacitating agents) can potentially be used in an event of chemoterrorism; thirdly, although intelligence and law enforcement organization should prevent such events, the medical community should also have the knowledge and equipment necessary for treatment of victims of such possible tragedies.